Form-fitting boot



July 22, 1930. a. L.IVAN IJIN- T-ER FORM FITTING Boo'T Original Filed Dec. 12, 1927 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 i G. L. VAN DINITER 1,771,004

FORM FIYTYTING BOOT Original Filed Dec. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 22,- 1930 GEORGE L. NVAN IbINTER, OF MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'ro ursnawan RUBBER AND WOOLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MISHAWAKA, DTDIA NA, A

conrona'rron OF INDIANA roam-marine 3001' Original application filed December 12, 1927, Serial 1T0: 239,385. Divided and. this application fled November 30,- 1928.

, My invention relates to footwear of the high top type commonly known as boots, and

has reference more particularly to the construction thereof with a permanently closed 'form fitting ankle and instep portion which may be enlarged to facilitate putting on and removing the boot., I

High top boots and especially those of rubber are usually made large and loose fitting at the ankle and instep to permit inserting' and removing the foot, as it is quite diflicult to make a boot of this character witha satisfactory expansible'ankle and instep' portion which will stand the required usage without developing leaks. It is desirable however to make the boot in a close fitting form, not only for the sake of improved appearance, but also to hold the boot securely in place and avoid the discomfort of the foot: working up and down in the boot. Withmy invention this. is accomplished, and an expansible ankle and instep construction provided, which will remain waterproof throughout the life of the boot. 1

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved form fitting boot; :to insure a substantial and effective waterproof construction at the ankle and instep which permits enlargement at this point for applying and removing the boot; to con-- struct'the ankle and instep portion of the boot with an expansible pouch-like closure having flaps with a detachable connection for fitting the boot-around the ankle and instep to utilize a special form of closing member at the ankle and instep, which folds into a compact and comfortable form and permits enlargement without stretching or other strains which might impair its water resistingcharacter; and in general, to provide a neat, at-

tractive and substantial form fitting boot of simple construction.

This application is a, division of my pending application, Serial No. 239,885, filed December 12-, 1927, which relates to a method of making form fitting boots.

On the drawings: v h Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a boot embody'l ng my improvements; it

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the .halves of the expansible closing members;

Serial No. 322,852.

Fig. is a front-view of the expansible closing member partially assembled and with .a portion? broken away to disclose'details of the construction; I

Fig. 6 is a sectional. view on thelline 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig..7 is a plan view of one of the front Fig. 8 is a plan view of the ca which is employed to reinforce the connections at the lower end of the expansible instep portion;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front view showing the initial step in assembling the bootlining and expansible. instep closure; and

Fig. is a similar view showing a subsequent step in the assembling of the expansible instep closing parts. I

Referring to the drawing, which shows my invention applied to a boot of knee length, although it is of course intended for use with boots of other lengths, the reference numeral 1 indicates the boot as a whole which is divided along the line 2 over the ankle and instep to form a pair of separable flaps 3 and 4, which are detachably connected in the closed form fitting position by buckles 5 of a well knownform or these flaps may be connected with any other'suitab e type of fastening devices. The flaps 3 and 4 are flared at their lower ends as indicated at 6 and 7respectively, forming a.blucher type of opening, and the vamp of the boot is provided with an extension 8 runnin up to and 1 0t at the upper endof the'opening 2, said extension secured to the front wall of the being provided at each side with inturned flaps 9 and 10 respectively, which are secured along their outer edges to theborresponding the separable boot flaps 3 and 4, and at the same time permits separation of the boot flaps 3 and 4 and enlargement of the boot at the ankle and the instep for inserting and removing the foot.

As a further means of affording a close fitting of a bootof the knee length type, the latter may be provided at the upper end with a slit 11 and a strap and buckle fastener 12, or other suitable fastener for detachably connecting the portions of the upper at opposite sides of the slit 11, and the edges of the upper at opposite sides of the slit 11 are connected by a gore 13, which permits any desired expansion of the upper and folds down fiat against the leg when the portions at opposite sides of the slit 11 are connected together.

\Vhile this construction may e used for any type of boot, it is particularly useful in connection with rubber boots, as it affords an expansible ankle and instep portion which will stand up under conditions of use to which rubber boots are subjected, without developing leaks which would impair the usefulness of the boot.

In making up a rubber boot with this ankle and instep construction, I prefer to proceed in the following manner: A pair of similar half sections of lining or quarters 14 of the form shown in Fig. 4 (which however has the upper portion broken away) are prepared and have the edges 15 of the toe portion secured together by a tape 16 or in other convenient manner. A vamp extension 8 of rubber composition, which" forms the back wall of the pouch or closing member, is prepared in substantially the form shown in Fig. 5, and has a lining 17 of fabric adhesively secured to the back thereof, said lining being of somewhat smaller size than the vamp extension 8 to leave a marginal edge 18 of the vamp extension 8 exposed on the under side. A pair of side flaps 9=and 10 of rubber composition with fabric facing. 19 (see Fig. 6) are then laid over the vamp section8 or back member of the pouch or closing member. and have their marginal edges/turned in under and secured. to a marginal edge of the vamp ex- I tension 8 asindicatedin Fig. 6, said flaps 9 and 10 being arranged so that they meet sub stantiallyalong the-longitudinal axis of the vamp extension-8, and these'flaps 9 and 10 have theirlower ends reversely flared as inclicatedat 20-,and 21 respectively to correspond to edge and secured together by to the blueher form or flaring arrangement 6 and 7 of the boot flaps 3 and 4.

' After the pouch-like closing member has beenprepared in this manner, the rounded lower end thereof between the points H in Fig. 5 is laid over and secured to the upper end of the joined together toe portions of the lining 14-14 as shown in Fig. 9, sothat the points zit-w of the closing member register with the points y- 1 of the assembled lining, whereupon the edge portions of the two parts of the lining from the point y to approximately the point z of Fig. 4 are laid over and secured to the edges of the respective flaps 9 and 10. The forward edges of the two lining sections 14-14 at the upper end of the closing member and therebeyond to the top of the boot are then arranged edge a tape 22, and the pouch-like closing member is also temporarily closed by bringing the edges of the lining section 14-14 and with them the edges .of the pouch flaps 9 and 10 together, as shown in Fig. 2 and applying a tape 23 across the meeting edges.

For reinforcing and insuring a thorough sealing of the connections between the various parts at the lower end of the closing member. a cap 24 of rubber composition of substantially the plied as shown in Fig. 2, so that, it extends well down below and above the juncture line of the vamp portionof the lining sections 14-14 and the vamp extension 8, while the side lobes 25 of the cap 24 are folded over the lower ends of the side flaps 9 and 10 and the overlying portions of the lining around the points m-y, so that the corner connections of the flaps with the vamp portion of the shoe are well protected and thoroughly sealed against possibility of leakage.

After the lining and pocket closing member has been prepared, as above described, the assembled structure is stretched around a last 26, as indicated in'Fig. 2, and the edges of the lining sections 1414 are brought to 'gether at the back and secured together; in any convenient manner, as by overlapping and cementing or taping. After the lining has been applied on the last, the sole is built up in the usual manner, and the facing of rubber composition applied over the lining to complete the upper, said facing being preferably provided with a pointed portion which fits up between the curved lower ends 6 and 7 of the side flaps 3 and 4, as indicated form shown in Fig. 8 is apby dotted lines at 28 in .Fig. 1, and the facing on the side flaps 3 and 4 being continuous across the line of separation 2, so that the side flaps 3 and 4 are joined together by the facing, the line of division being preferably marked by a score line which terminates near the upper end of the pocket or closing member, while the side portions of the upper thereabove are overlapped or provided with reinforcing 29,'so that the side flaps 3 and 4 a reinforcing 29 extending up to the top of theboot.

After the boot has been assembled in this manner itis vulcanized, and after vulcanizing the facing 27 and the tape 23 are slit along the line 2 upto the lower end of the may be separated to expand the ankle and insteptportion of the boot for applying and removing. The fasteners 5 may be attached in any convenient manner, preferably by means of tabs which are arranged in place before the boot is vulcanized, or any other desired type of fastener may be-employed, the essential requirement being the provision of the boot with a serviceable and thoroughly waterproof expansible portion at the ankle and instep which is sufiicientlystrong and durable to avoid the necessity of making rubber boots in a loose fitting form.

While I have shown and described my invcntion in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A boot with a pair of elon ated instep flaps which are separable at thei lower ends and have their upper ends joined together below the top of the boot, and an expansible pocket member underneath and closing the opening between the flaps, said member comprising a back wall and an overlying divided front wall joined together along their outer edges and at the upper ends and having the divided edges of the front wall secured respectively to the inner edges of the corre-' spending flaps, said pocket walls and flaps being of -corresponding transversely arched and longitudinally curved form and resiliently nested together in superposed relation.

2. A boot having a pair of separable instep flaps with their upper ends joined together below the top of the boot and their lower ends flared over the instep, and anexpansible pocket member underneath and closing ,the opening afforded by the flaps, said member being of rubber composition having a back portion forming a continuation of the boot:

vamp and inturned side portions flared at their lower ends like said flaps and said side portions being vulcanized along their inner pldges to the inner edges of the corresponding aps. I

3. The combination of a boot having a slit in the front-wall over the instep closed at the upper end and ope at the lower end, and

an expansible folded ember of fabric reinforced rubber composition underneath and extending at each side of the slit and havin' an int-urned portion'at each side consolidated with the corresponding margin of the slit.

' 4. In a boot, the combination of a front 5 wall having a slit spaced from the top of thev boot and terminating ina transverse opening at the lower end, and a fiat pouch-shaped closing member under. the slit and closed at the upper end and open at the lower end and having a back wall and an overlying divided front wall, the two parts of the latter being secured respectively to the edges of the slit and the open lower end being secured in the transverse opening of the front wall of the boot, and said front and back walls of the closing member being formed of separate pieces of resilient material joined together along their marginal edges and molded in transversely arched and longitudinally curved form.

5. In a boot, the combination of a front wall having a slit over the instep with a flap at each side thereof, said flaps being Joined together at their upper ends and separable at their lower ends, and an elongated substantially elliptical shaped closing member with overlying flaps under the slittedfront wall, the inner edges of said flaps of the closing member being secured to the edges of the slit.'

6. In a boot, the combination of a front wall having a pair-of flaps over the instep joined together at the top and flaring at the lower end, a closing member underneath the. flaps comprisinga middle portion and inturned side portions having their inner edges secured to the edges of the flaps, and a cap on the vamp of the boot embracing the lower edges of the combined flaps and side portlons and overlying the lower end of said middle portion; s v v j 7. In a boot the combination of a pair of separable flaps, an expansible closing member under said flaps comprising an elongated bottom section with convex lateral edges and a pair ofhalf sections overlying the bottom sectionand having corresponding ,npper with a pair of elongated instep flaps,

the upper ends of which terminate at a distance below the top of the boot and the lower ends of which are separable, and an expansible pocket member of rubber composition secured 7 to the edges of the flapsand sealing the opening therebetween, said pocket member being molded in a transversely arched and longitudinally curved shape conforming to and resiliently fitting against the front wall of the boot.

9; A boot having a initially undivided front wall of rubber composition slitted over g the instep to afford separable flaps, the upper ends of which terminate at adistance beow the upper end of the-boot and the lower ends of which are separable and an expansible pocket member of rubber composition secured to the edgesof the flaps and sealing the opening therebetween.

10. A boot with a pair of separable instep flaps, the upper ends of which terminate at a distance below the top of the boot, an expansible pocket member of rubber com position secured to the edges of the flaps and sealing the opening therebetween, reinforcing at the end of the flaps comprising a patch of rubber composition covering end portions of the flaps, portions of the pocket menliber and adjoining portions of the boot wal 11. A boot with a pair of separable instep flaps, the upper ends of which termi nate at a distance below the top of the boot, an expansible pocket member of rubber composition secured to the edges of the flaps, and

local reinforcing at the juncture of the flaps with the wall of the boot, said local reinforcing consisting of a patch of rubber composition covering the juncture of each flap with the adjoining portion of the boot wall.

12. A boot of the class described havin separable flaps of the blucher type space from' the upper end of the boot, provided with an expansible instep comprising three walls which are arched transversely and curved longitudinally of the boot and resiliently nest together in compact superposed relation, the blucher flaps constituting the outer wall of the expansible instep the inner and middle walls being connected along their outer edges and at the top to form a pocket, and the middle and outer walls being divided longitudinally over the inner wall and joined together along each side of the dividing line and separable at their lower ends from the inner wall. 7

13. A boot of the class described having an expansible instep comprising three Walls of rubber composition which are arched transversely and curved longitudinally of,

the boot and resiliently nest together in compact superposed relation, the inner and middle walls being connected along their edges and at the top to form a pocket and the middle and outer walls each having a pair of elongated flaps which are joined together at their upper ends and separable at their lower ends, and the corresponding flaps of said middle and outer walls being joined together along their inner edges.

14. Aboot of the class described having an expansible instep comprising three walls of rubber composition which are arched transversely and curved longitudinally of the boot and resiliently nest together in compact superposed relation, the inner and middle walls being connected along their edges and at the top to form a pocket and the middle and outer walls each having a pair of elongated fiaps which are joined together at their upper ends and flared at their lower ends and the corresponding flaps of said middle and outer walls and local being joined together along their inner and flared lower edges.

15. In a boot of the class described the combination of an upper of rubber composition the wall of which along the instep has an elongated internal opening therethrough forming opposed elongated flaps joined together at their upper ends and having separable lower ends, and an elongated pocket member having a back wall forming a continuation of the vamp portion of the up er and extending upwardly under the separa le flaps and having a divided front wall consolidated with the upper at the top of and along the lateral and bottomedges of the aforesaid opening so that the pocket seals said opening.

16. In a boot of the class described the combination of an upper of rubber composition having a pair of opposed elongated instep flaps with separable lower ends, and having the upper ends joined together, said upper having a portion joined to and extending upwardly from the vamp under the separable lower ends of the instep flaps and consolidated at its upper end with the wall of the upper above the opening between said flaps, and said portion having flaps extending inwardly under the respective instep flaps and consolidated along their inner and lower edges with the respective inner andlower edges of the instep flaps.

17. In a boot of the class described the combination of an upper of rubber composition having an upright slit along the instep forming separable flaps which are united at their upper ends and flared at their lower ends, an elongated pocket member extending upwardly from the vamp of the boot under the slitted portion of the upper and having a divided front wall forming separable portions with inner and lower edges conforming to and consolidated'with the edges of the flaps, so as to secure the pocket to the inner side of the upper and seal the opening in the upper formed by the slit, said pocket member being of rubber composition molded in a transversely arched and longitudinally curved form and resiliently fitting against the inner side of a correspondingly arched and curved portion of the boot upper.

18. In a boot of the class described the combination of an upper of rubber compositionhaving a pair" of edgewise. abutting elongated instep flaps, the lower ends of which are separable and the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of the boot, and an elongated pocket member under said flaps having back and front walls -of resilient material transversely arched and longitudinally curved to conform to the overlying flaps,- said front-wall being divided and having abutting edges underlylngand-secured to the abutting edges of the instep flaps. e I

19. In a boot of the class described the combination of an upper of rubber composition having a pair of opposed elongated instep flaps with separable lower ends and having the upper ends joined together, an elongated pocket member Within the boot having back and front walls conforming to the overlying wall of the upper, the front wall of the pocket member having separable portions, the edges of which conform to and are secured to the edges of the instep flaps so as to seal the opening therebetween and resiliently hold the pocket member against the inner side of the instep flaps, and fasteners secured on the i exterior of the instep flaps for holding the instep flaps in the closed position.

20. In a rubber boot, the combination of a pairof separable instep flaps having their v upper ends joined together below the top of the boot, an elongated laterally expansible pocket member under and closing the opening between the flaps and comprisin a back wall and a front wall with separable portions of the latter secured along their inner edges to the said separable flaps of the boot, said front and back walls each comprising a layer of fabric .reinforced rubber composition, a portion of the rubber composition along the. outer edge and at the upper end of '3 one of the walls being consolidated with a portion of the rubber composition along the corresponding lateral marginal edge and upper end of the other wall so as to seal the lateral edges and upper end of the pocket, and fasteners for detachably connecting the flaps.

GEORGE L. VAN DINTER. 

